Meyer to get $100,000 bonus if OSU wins today
Title game today against Wisconsin may benefit coach.
If the Ohio State football team wins the Big Ten Championship today, it’ll mean a $100,000 bonus for coach Urban Meyer.
If the Ohio State Buckeyes win the Big Ten Championship game today, it’ll mean a $100,000 bonus in Urban Meyer’s paycheck.
Meyer’s 41-page contract with the university is stocked with performance bonuses and extra benefits. For example, if Meyer’s team goes on to a major non-playoff bowl game, he’ll be paid another $200,000. And if the Buckeyes make it to the National Championship game, he’ll receive a $350,000 bonus.
Meyer is one of the most successful head coaches in college football with a 71-8 record in his six seasons at Ohio State, a national championship in 2014, five consecutive Big Ten conference division titles and one Big Ten title.
Going into the Big Ten Championship, unbeaten Wisconsin is ranked fourth in the College Football rankings while OSU is ranked eighth with an 10-2 record.
Hired as head coach in November 2011, Meyer was the highest paid public employee in the state of Ohio last year when he pulled more than $6 million in salary and bonuses. If he sticks around until Jan. 31, 2018 — a virtual lock — he’ll receive a $160,000 longevity payment.
Meyer’s contract calls for $818,640 base pay, $2.665 million pay for media appearances, $1.566 million for apparel and shoe promotion, and performance bonuses based on title wins, bowl appearances and the team’s grade point average. He also receives a golf club membership, football and basketball tickets, private aircraft travel for recruiting trips, and up to 50 hours of private aircraft travel for personal trips.
Ohio State is among just 13 college athletics programs that are self-sustaining, according to NCAA data tracked by USAToday. In the 2015-16 school year, Ohio State athletics generated $170.8 million and spent $166.8 million, according to USAToday.